The unprecedented number of shark attacks in West Australian waters is not only making headlines around the world, it's also changing people's behaviour toward the ocean. On Saturday, 33-year-old Peter Kurmann became the fourth shark victim in seven months when he was attacked by a suspected four metre great white shark while diving off Stratham Beach, near Bunbury. The attack has made WA waters the most dangerous place to swim, regarding shark attacks, in the world. Shark Response Unit spokesman at the Department of Fisheries, Tony Cappelutti, says the attacks have changed the way people interact with the water.

"Even at our work people have talked about changing their behaviour in terms of using the aquatic environment, particularly divers." Mr Cappelutti says there is an average of one fatal shark attack annually in Australian waters and the unparalleled number of shark attacks in WA waters has certainly had an impact on the public's psyche. "Surf lifesaving also told us anecdotally that they see people changing their behaviour at the beach, particularly swimming early in the morning and people are sticking much closer to the shoreline."

Personally I think it's silly to worry about shark attack and it hasn't changed my behavior at all. Why? Because I'm of the opinion that water is made for drinking and fishing and that if (insert personal deity here) had wanted us to swim in the ocean (insert preferred deity gender here) would have given us fins and a blowhole. So I don't. Ever. Ergo, an increased threat of shark attack doesn't affect me at all (admittedly, it helps that I live in Oklahoma...).

But I realize that I am a minority and that there are many unhinged individuals out there who enjoy toying with Great White Death. So, in light of a seeming uptick in shark attacks worldwide, has the threat (or at least the idea) changed your beach behavior?

News and information on hunting, archery and fishing in South and Central Texas. Boating, lake level and river level information provided for Braunig Lake, Lake Calaveras, Canyon Lake, Medina Lake and others. Whitetail deer and turkey season information and tips.

Share this:

The unprecedented number of shark attacks in West Australian waters is not only making headlines around the world, it's also changing people's behaviour toward the ocean. On Saturday, 33-year-old Peter Kurmann became the fourth shark victim in seven months when he was attacked by a suspected four metre great white shark while diving off Stratham Beach, near Bunbury. The attack has made WA waters the most dangerous place to swim, regarding shark attacks, in the world. Shark Response Unit spokesman at the Department of Fisheries, Tony Cappelutti, says the attacks have changed the way people interact with the water.

"Even at our work people have talked about changing their behaviour in terms of using the aquatic environment, particularly divers." Mr Cappelutti says there is an average of one fatal shark attack annually in Australian waters and the unparalleled number of shark attacks in WA waters has certainly had an impact on the public's psyche. "Surf lifesaving also told us anecdotally that they see people changing their behaviour at the beach, particularly swimming early in the morning and people are sticking much closer to the shoreline."

Personally I think it's silly to worry about shark attack and it hasn't changed my behavior at all. Why? Because I'm of the opinion that water is made for drinking and fishing and that if (insert personal deity here) had wanted us to swim in the ocean (insert preferred deity gender here) would have given us fins and a blowhole. So I don't. Ever. Ergo, an increased threat of shark attack doesn't affect me at all (admittedly, it helps that I live in Oklahoma...).

But I realize that I am a minority and that there are many unhinged individuals out there who enjoy toying with Great White Death. So, in light of a seeming uptick in shark attacks worldwide, has the threat (or at least the idea) changed your beach behavior?